Sasaki Advances to Final Phase of Rebuild by Design

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the project opportunities that will be pursued by each of the ten teams advancing to Stage 3 of the Rebuild by Design competition. Each team will now spend the next five months working with local and regional stakeholders in developing projects and design approaches to increase resilience in the region affected by Hurricane Sandy. The goal is to arrive at projects that are implementable and fundable, leveraging the variety of federal recovery investments being made in the region.

Informed by a close reading of cultural, economic, and ecological conditions, the Sasaki, Rutgers, and Arup team takes a regional look at the Jersey shore to test solutions that rethink three iconic elements of the human experience of the shore—the pier, the boardwalk, and the marina—in order to help coastal communities adapt and strengthen in the face of ongoing sea level rise and storm threats. "The Jersey shore is an extraordinary place," says Sasaki principal Jason Hellendrung. "We're excited to work through Rebuild by Design to enhance the ecology and diversify the economy of the area, while retaining the unique qualities that has made the shore meaningful to generations of residences and visitors."

"The Rebuild by Design competition is bringing forward thinking and innovative ideas to help the region impacted by Hurricane Sandy rebuild even stronger than before," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "As we continue coping with our changing climate, the resulting projects will not only make communities more resilient and sustainable, but also be a model of how we can better prepare for future natural disasters."